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Joe Gancher Joe Gancher is offline
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Default Old Style Florescent Ballast On Load Sid of GFI Tripping Breaker

I'm trying to install a GFI in my kitchen. I also have a florescent light over my sink, So I've put the GFI and it's two outlets in the box and a single switch next to it. I've followed two sets of instructions, one that came with the Leviton product and another online. I've put the black and white wires matching on the same side as the line connections. I've also tried pigtailing the connections but with the same resultant electrical path. Both blow the breaker and with a flash and a bang. I check my resistance , after segregating the power of course and get high resistance between black and white when the switch is off but short circuit when it's on. My best guess is that these ballasts are inductively coupled. what I don't understand however is that if I plug the ballast straight in an extension cord, it works fine. The GFI appears to be the device that causes the short. Any suggestions or insights other than getting my light off that GFI breaker ?